Fork

ABSTRACT

A fork includes a handle and a fork head. The handle substantially extends in a front-rear direction. The fork head is connected to the handle. The fork head includes a plurality of columnar tines that extend in the front-rear direction, and a fork body that is connected between the tines and the handle. The tines are arranged in a left-right direction that is transverse to the front-rear direction. The tines are mainly made of pliable and flexible materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Utility Model PatentApplication No. 109204135, filed on Apr. 9, 2020.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an eating utensil, and more particularly to afork.

BACKGROUND

A conventional fork as shown in FIG. 1 is made of stiff materials likemetals. The conventional fork includes a handle 11 that extends in afront-rear direction and a fork head 12 that extends forwardly from thehandle 11. The handle 11 is adapted to be held in one hand by a user.The fork head 12 includes a plurality of tines 13 that extend in thefront-rear direction and that are spaced apart and arranged in aleft-right direction, and a fork body 14 that is connected between thetines 13 and the handle 11.

Each of the tines 13 extends in the front-rear direction and is in ashape of a leaf that is thin, long and flattened. Moreover, each of thetines 13 cooperates with at least one adjacent tine 13 so that it iseasy for the user to pierce food. Although such conventional fork hasthe ability of piercing food, the user may be exposed to potentialinjuries such as being pierced or stabbed in view of the specificcharacteristics of the tines 13 (i.e. the stiff materials and the thinand flattened shape). Thus, the conventional fork is not safe enough foruse, especially by babies or preschool children. Furthermore, theconfiguration of the tines 13 makes it difficult for the conventionalfork to hold grain-shaped or stick-shaped food, so that food in suchshapes may easily separate from the tines 13.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a fork that canalleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the fork includes a handle and a fork head.The handle substantially extends in a front-rear direction. The forkhead is connected to the handle. The fork head includes a plurality ofcolumnar tines that extend in the front-rear direction, and a fork bodythat is connected between the tines and the handle. The tines arearranged in a left-right direction that is transverse to the front-reardirection. The tines are mainly made of pliable and flexible materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent inthe following detailed description of the embodiment with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional fork;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a forkaccording to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged top view illustrating the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in a front-rear direction through afork handle of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along a horizontal cutting planethrough a handle tongue of the fork handle;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view illustrating the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.3 through a plurality of tines; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII inFIG. 3 through the tines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be notedthat where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminalportions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally havesimilar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an embodiment of a fork according to thedisclosure includes a handle 2 and a fork head 3, and is adapted forpiercing and holding food so that a user can pick up the food. Thehandle 2 substantially extends in a front-rear direction (D1), and thefork head 3 is connected to and integrated with the handle 2, andextends forwardly from the handle 2.

The handle 2 includes a handle body 21 that is connected to andintegrated with the fork head 3, and a handle core 22 that is surroundedby the handle body (i.e., embedded in the handle body 21).

The handle body 21 is a bent rod that substantially extends in thefront-rear direction (D1). More specifically, from the rear to thefront, the handle body 21 first curves upward and then curves downward.Moreover, a width of the handle body 21 in a left-right direction (D2)that is transverse to the front-rear direction (D1) generally decreasesfrom the rear to the front. Because the handle body 21 is designed witha shape that is curved and that tapers forwardly, the handle body 21 isergonomic.

The handle body 21 is mainly made of silicone rubber. Hardness ofsilicone rubber can be measured in the Shore type A hardness scale ofthe Shore durometer. The Shore type A hardness scale ranges from 0A to100A; the higher the number, the harder the material. In the embodimentaccording to the disclosure, the hardness of the silicone rubber that isused to make the handle body 21 is substantially 80A. With the siliconerubber as the main constituent, the handle body 21 provides not onlystiffness for the fork to pierce the food, but also softness for thecomfort and safety of use. Furthermore, silicone rubber is relativelystable when used as eating utensils, and eating utensils made ofsilicone rubber would not contain harmful substances such as heavymetals or Bisphenol A. Therefore, silicone rubber is suitable for makingthe handle body 21 of the fork as it is relatively safe and does notcontaminate the food.

In other embodiments, the handle body 21 of the fork may be made ofsilicone rubber that has a hardness of xA, where x is an integer rangingfrom 60 to 95. In addition, the silicone rubber can be added with silverfor its antibacterial properties so that food safety is not onlyachieved but further ensured.

The handle core 22 extends and bends in a similar direction as thehandle body 21 to conform to the structure of the handle body 21. In thepresent embodiment, the handle core 22 is mainly made of polyamide thathas a hardness greater than that of the handle body 21 so that thehandle core 22 can support and reinforce the handle body 21.

In the embodiment according to the disclosure, the fork head 3 includesthree columnar tines 31 that extend generally in the front-reardirection (D1), that are arranged in the left-right direction (D2), andthat are bent, and a fork body 32 that is integrated with and connectedbetween the tines 31 and the handle body 21 of the handle 2. However,one or more other embodiments where the fork head 3 includes only two ofthe tines 31 or the fork head 3 includes at least four of the tines 31can also be practiced.

The fork body 32 and the tines 31 are made of the same materials as thehandle body 21. The fork body 32 cooperates with the bent tines 31 toforma spork-shaped structure that is curved, that has a concave upperspork-shaped surface 33 and a convex lower spork-shaped surface oppositeto the upper spork-shaped surface 33.

The handle core 22 further includes a handle tongue 221 (see FIG. 5)that extends into the fork body 32 in the front-rear direction (D1).However, in one or more other embodiments of the fork according to thedisclosure, the handle core 22 is only surrounded by the handle body 21but does not extend into the fork body 32 of the fork head 3, so thatthe fork head 3 can be more flexible than this embodiment. As foreffects that the fork can achieve in the case where the handle tongue221 of the handle core 22 extends into the fork head 3, relevantdescriptions will be provided after detailed descriptions of the tines31.

In the embodiment according to the disclosure, adjacent pairs of thetines 31 with a common tine 31 between the pairs cooperatively definetwo fork gaps 34. Each of the fork gaps 34 generally extends in thefront-rear direction (D1) and is located between the corresponding pairof the tines 31. Besides, each of the tines 31 includes a first end 311that is connected to the fork body 32 and a second end 312 that isopposite to the first end 311.

Each of the fork gaps 34 is partitioned into a first gap area 341 thatis defined by the first ends 311 of the corresponding pair of the tines31, a second gap area 342 that is defined by the second ends 312 of thecorresponding pair of the tines 31, and a third gap area 345 that islocated between the first gap area 341 and the second gap area 342.

For each of the fork gaps 34, a maximum width 343 of the first gap area341 in the left-right direction (D2), a maximum width 346 of the thirdgap area 345 in the left-right direction (D2), or both of the maximumwidth 343 of the first gap area 341 in the left-right direction (D2) andthe maximum width 346 of the third gap area 345 in the left-rightdirection (D2) are greater than a minimum width 344 of the second gaparea 342 in the left-right direction (D2). In this embodiment, a distalportion of each fork gap 34 defined by the corresponding pair of tines31 has a width smaller than that of an intermediate portion of the forkgap 34. Further, in this embodiment, the second gap area 342 slightlydiverges toward a distal end of the fork gap 34.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, for each of the tines 31, a cross-sectionof the first end 311 is dimensionally greater than a cross-section ofthe second end 312, and each of the tines 31 gradually tapers from thefirst end 311 to the second end 312.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, each of the tines 31 includes a first tinesurface 313 that substantially faces upwardly in an up-down direction(D3) and that extends in the front-rear direction (D1), and twoconnecting tine surfaces 314 that extend in the front-rear direction(D1), that are arranged in the left-right direction (D2) and that extenddownwardly from the first tine surface 313 in the up-down direction(D3).

In the embodiment, the tine 31 in the middle (hereinafter also referredto as “middle tine 31”) further includes a second tine surface 315 thatis located below the first tine surface 313 in the up-down direction(D3). The second tine surface 315 extends in the front-rear direction(D1) and substantially tapers away from the fork body 32 (see FIG. 6).The connecting tine surfaces 314 of the middle tine 31 extend downwardlyfrom the first tine surface 313 of the middle tine 31 toward the secondtine surface 315 of the middle tine 31 in the up-down direction (D3), sothat a cross-section of the middle tine 31 is roughly a trapezoid thatis wider at the top, where the cross-section is perpendicular to thefront-rear direction (D1).

In addition, the connecting tine surfaces 314 of each of two of thetines 31 that are located respectively at the outermost sides(hereinafter also referred to as “outermost tines 31”) extend downwardlyfrom the respective first tine surface 313 in the up-down direction(D3), so that a cross-section of each of the outermost tines 31 is in aninverted triangle-like shape that is wider at the top, where thecross-section is perpendicular to the front-rear direction (D1).

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the embodiment of the fork is characterizedin that the tines 31 are mainly made of pliable and flexible materials,so a user is safe from being pierced or stabbed when the tines 31 getinto contact with the user. Therefore, the embodiment of the fork isassured to be safe not only for adults but also for babies or childrenduring use.

Having each of the tines 31 gradually tapering from the first end 311 tothe second end 312 and including the connecting tine surfaces 314 thatextend downwardly in the up-down direction (D3) are beneficial designsso that the tines 31 made of pliable and flexible materials can piercethe food. Moreover, each adjacent pair of the tines 31 are able tocooperatively grip the food relatively tightly because of the design ofeach fork gap 34 with a distal portion smaller in width than anintermediate portion. More specifically, when grain-shaped orstick-shaped food (i.e. peas, corn kernels, vegetable strips andvegetable sticks) enters one of the fork gaps 34 through the respectivesecond gap area 342, the grain-shaped or stick-shaped food does noteasily separate from the one of the fork gaps 34 because the respectivesecond gap area 342 is not wide enough for the grain-shaped orstick-shaped food to slip away. Thus, the tines 31 cooperatively achievean effect of gripping the food tightly, even if the food is grain-shapedor stick-shaped.

In addition, the upper spork-shaped surface 33 of the fork head 3cooperatively formed by the fork body 32 and the bent tines 31 allowsthe fork head 3 to have a function similar to a spoon, which means, forthe food that is too small for the tines 31 to pierce and pick up, theupper spork-shaped surface 33 of the fork head 3 can be adapted to spoonthe food. For such usage, the structure of the fork head 3 can bereinforced to spoon the food more smoothly if the handle tongue 221 ofthe handle core 22 extends into the fork body 32 of the fork head 3.

In summary, the embodiment of the fork according to the disclosureachieves the effect of eliminating the possibility of harming the userwith the tines 31 for the tines 31 are mainly made of pliable andflexible materials. Aside from safety, the columnar tines 31 of the forkcan pierce the food effectively and grip the food tightly with each ofthe fork gaps 34 defined by the tines 31 having a distal portion smallerin width than an intermediate portion.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details have been set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to oneskilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practicedwithout some of these specific details. It should also be appreciatedthat reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number andso forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicmay be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be furtherappreciated that in the description, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in theunderstanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or morefeatures or specific details from one embodiment may be practicedtogether with one or more features or specific details from anotherembodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what isconsidered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended tocover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fork comprising: a handle substantiallyextending in a front-rear direction; and a fork head connected to saidhandle, and including a plurality of columnar tines that extend in thefront-rear direction, and a fork body that is connected between saidtines and said handle, said tines being arranged in a left-rightdirection that is transverse to the front-rear direction and beingmainly made of pliable and flexible materials.
 2. The fork as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said tines are arranged and spaced apart in theleft-right direction, and each adjacent pair of said tines cooperativelydefining a fork gap, a distal portion of each of said fork gaps definedby said tines having a width smaller than that of an intermediateportion of said fork gap.
 3. The fork as claimed in claim 2, whereineach of said tines includes a first end that is connected to said forkbody and a second end that is opposite to said first end, each of saidfork gaps being partitioned into a first gap area that is defined bysaid first ends of the corresponding pair of said tines, a second gaparea that is defined by said second ends of the corresponding pair ofsaid tines, and a third gap area that is located between said first gaparea and said second gap area, for each of said fork gaps, a maximumwidth of said first gap area, a maximum width of said third gap area, orboth of said maximum width of said first gap area and said maximum widthof said third gap area being greater than a minimum width of said secondgap area.
 4. The fork as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tinesincludes a first tine surface that substantially faces upwardly in anup-down direction and that extends in the front-rear direction, and twoconnecting tine surfaces that extend in the front-rear direction, thatare arranged in the left-right direction and that extend downwardly inthe up-down direction.
 5. The fork as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidfork head includes three of said tines that are arranged in theleft-right direction, said tine in the middle further including a secondtine surface that is located below said first tine surface in theup-down direction (D3), said second tine surface extending in thefront-rear direction and substantially tapering away from said forkbody, said connecting tine surfaces of said tine in the middle extendingdownwardly from said first tine surface of said tine in the middletoward said second tine surface of said tine in the middle in theup-down direction.
 6. The fork as claimed in claim 4, wherein across-section of each of two of said tines that are located respectivelyat the outermost sides is in an inverted triangle-like shape that iswider at the top, the cross-section being perpendicular to thefront-rear direction.
 7. The fork as claimed in claim 5, wherein across-section of each of two of said tines that are located respectivelyat the outermost sides is in an inverted triangle-like shape that iswider at the top, the cross-section being perpendicular to thefront-rear direction.
 8. The fork as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidhandle includes a handle body that is connected to said fork head, and ahandle core that is surrounded by said handle body, hardness of saidhandle core being greater than that of said handle body.
 9. The fork asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said handle body, said fork body and saidtines are made of a same material, said handle core further including ahandle tongue that extends into said fork body in the front-reardirection.
 10. The fork as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of saidtines is mainly made of silicone rubber that has a hardness ranging fromShore 60 to Shore 95 when measured by a Shore durometer.
 11. The fork asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tines includes a first end thatis connected to said fork body and a second end that is opposite to saidfirst end, and each of said tines gradually tapers from said first endto said second end.